YouTube Movies and TV is YouTube's store for buying or renting individual movies and TV shows, depending on where you live. You need to be 18 or older, signed in to a Google Account with a valid payment method, and on a supported device, and you can then watch what you've paid for on a computer, phone, smart TV, streaming device or games console.
The rule that catches most people is the rental clock. YouTube Help says that after you rent a movie you have 30 days to start watching. Once you press play, the rental period starts, and it's usually 48 hours. The exact length is shown on the final page of checkout, so check it there rather than assuming.
One more thing worth knowing up front: movies bought on YouTube don't appear in your Google Play Family Library.
Buying vs renting at a glance
| Buy | Rent | |
|---|---|---|
| How long you can watch | Indefinitely, as many times as you like | 30 days to start, then the rental period (usually 48 hours) |
| TV shows | Single episodes or whole seasons | Only in Japan |
| Downloads | Up to five devices | One device at a time |
| Unreleased episodes | Added to your library automatically when they come out | Not applicable |
If a season you bought hasn't finished airing, YouTube adds new episodes to your library as they're released. Availability of individual titles varies by location and can change over time, and you'll need an internet connection to stream anything you've rented or bought.
Some titles come in more than one resolution at different prices. If you want the step-by-step for a rental, I've covered how to rent a movie on YouTube separately, so this page sticks to the rest of the store.
How to buy on a computer, phone or TV
Computer or mobile
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- Go to Films, or search YouTube for the movie or show you want.
- Click the button showing the price for the rental or the purchase. Different resolutions may have different prices.
- If you've got a coupon, click Enter promotional code, add it and click the arrow.
- Choose a payment method or add a new one, then click Buy.
You'll get a purchase confirmation once the payment goes through. On iOS, buying is only supported in selected locations. If it isn't available where you are, YouTube says you can buy on another device and still watch on your iPhone or iPad.
Smart TV or streaming device
- Open the YouTube app (it needs the latest version).
- Search for the title. To browse, search for Movies.
- Select it, then choose Rent or Buy.
- Confirm your payment method, select Continue, follow the on-screen prompts and select Pay Now.
- Pick Watch Now or Watch Later.
If you haven't saved a payment method, you'll need to add one on a computer or phone first. Games consoles are the exception: YouTube Help says you can't buy movies or TV shows on a console at all. Buy on another device and watch on the console afterwards.
Where your purchases live
| Device | Where to find what you've bought or rented |
|---|---|
| Computer | Left menu, Movies & TV, then Purchased (or youtube.com/purchases while signed in) |
| Phone or tablet | Tap your profile picture, then Your movies & TV |
| Smart TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku | Library tab, then Your Movies & Shows |
| Games console | Library tab, Your Movies & Shows, then Purchased |
YouTube Help lists Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U and Nintendo Switch as consoles that can play purchases. You can also cast rentals and purchases to a TV with Chromecast or to Android TV. You'll need to be signed in on whatever device you use, and if signing in on the TV is the sticking point, here's how to sign in to YouTube on your TV.
In the US, Germany, France, Australia and the UK you can also subscribe to certain Primetime Channels, like Showtime or Starz, and watch them inside YouTube. Those are a subscription rather than a one-off purchase. More on that in what YouTube Primetime Channels are.
HD and 4K: why your movie might look soft
Every title is available in standard definition. Some are also offered in HD or 4K UHD, and YouTube Help says studio licensing agreements decide whether HD or UHD plays on a given device.
- HD on YouTube means 720 to 1080 lines of vertical resolution, shown as 720p or 1080p in the quality settings.
- 4K UHD purchases play in the YouTube app on eligible smart TVs and Android TVs, or with a Chromecast Ultra.
- Bandwidth matters. UHD needs a steady download speed of at least 15 megabits per second, or the movie may drop to HD or SD.
Here's the one that surprises people: you can sometimes buy the HD or UHD version on a device that can't play it. You'll still be able to watch it in lower quality there, or watch in full quality on a compatible device. HD support includes most HD-capable Android devices and select smart TVs from 2013 onwards.
Downloading to watch offline
You don't need YouTube Premium to download a movie or episode you've bought or rented. It works in the YouTube app on iOS 11 or higher and Android app version 16.23 or higher, signed in with the same account you paid with.
- Tap your profile picture, then Your movies & TV.
- Tap the title you want.
- Select a video quality. UHD isn't available for download.
- Choose an audio track if more than one language is offered. All available subtitles come with it.
- Wait for the Downloaded icon under the player.
Downloads sit under the Downloaded filter at the top of your Library. Rentals follow the same 30-day and rental-period rules offline. You can't have the same title downloaded in both YouTube and the Google Play Movies and TV app on one device at the same time.
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Refunds, purchase history and pre-orders
YouTube Help says that if you haven't watched a movie or show, you can request a refund within 7 business days of the purchase. You may also be eligible if videos or features related to the purchase don't work. To ask, go to youtube.com/paid_memberships and click Refund next to the item. If a refund is granted, you lose access to the title.
Purchases and rentals made in the YouTube Android app are billed through Google Play, so the refund has to go through the Play Store under Google Play's policies.
Your purchase history can be deleted in part or in full, which limits how it's used for personalisation, but you can't hide purchases from it, and they'll still show in your library.
For pre-orders, a pre-order button appears on the title's watch page and you aren't charged until it's available. You can cancel from Purchases and memberships using the three-dot Menu and Cancel preorder, as long as it hasn't been delivered. Pre-orders aren't supported on smart TVs yet.
My verdict
The store works well once you know its quirks. My advice: buy rather than rent if you're likely to watch twice, check the rental length on the checkout page before you pay, don't pay extra for 4K unless your TV and connection can handle it, and remember the 7-business-day refund window only applies if you haven't watched the title.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I watch a rented movie on YouTube?
You have 30 days to start watching. Once you start, you can watch as often as you like until the rental period ends, which is usually 48 hours. The exact length is shown on the final checkout page.
Where can I find movies I bought on YouTube?
On a computer, go to Movies & TV and then Purchased, or youtube.com/purchases. On a phone, tap your profile picture and Your movies & TV. On a TV or console, open the Library tab and Your Movies & Shows.
Can I download purchased movies?
Yes, in the YouTube app on iOS 11 or higher and Android app version 16.23 or higher, without YouTube Premium. Purchases can be downloaded on up to five devices and rentals on one device at a time. UHD isn't available for download.
Can I get a refund on a YouTube movie?
If you haven't watched it, you can request a refund within 7 business days from youtube.com/paid_memberships. Purchases made in the YouTube Android app are billed by Google Play and refunded through the Play Store.
Can you buy movies on YouTube on a smart TV?
Yes, in the latest YouTube app on supported smart TVs, as long as you have a saved payment method. You can't buy on a games console, but you can watch purchases there.
Why is a movie not in HD or 4K?
Studio licensing decides whether HD or UHD plays on a device, and 4K needs an eligible smart TV, Android TV or Chromecast Ultra plus a steady speed of at least 15 megabits per second.
